77 Grain SMK - Federal GGM or Black Hills?

[irondude]

I have a rifle team completion coming up and my teammate and I are shooting in the .556 limited class. I don't have the time or energy to work up hand loads. What is the general consensus on 77 grain SMK commercial match ammo?

I am going buy a 100 rounds each of Black Hills and Federal GMM for testing. I would also like to hear any good or bad results you all have had with either option.

Many thanks in advance for your feedback.

[soulezoo]

The Black Hills has been first rate in my experience. Cost is the only downside. Performance is tops amongst commercial loadings.

I have no experience with the GMM.

[cougar_guy04]

I've used Federal GMM (.223), Black Hills (5.56), and have some IMI Razor Core (5.56) to test. The I've had comparable results with both Black Hills and Federal GMM, both are very consistent for me. I've shot more of the Federal and have shot it out to about 715-725y and was able to get first round hits on a USPSA silhouette steel.

I think user Molon has done some extensive testing/research on both of those. You might do a search for his posts.

Found one he did on Mk262 Black Hills back in 2015, still looking for anything on Federal gMM:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?168882-Range-Report-Black-Hills-MK262-Mod-1

Edit: Found some more of Molon's stuff:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?178221-Federal-69-Grain-Gold-Medal-Match-Velocity-Accuracy-and-Terminal-Ballistics
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?31543-77-grain-SMK-chronograph-data-Black-Hills-CORBON-Federal-Buffalo-Bore

[markm]

I've never tried GMM either. I'd love to get a few boxes to pull apart and study... and Shoot. I've only shot the Mk 262 Black Hills, and it's outstanding ammo. Almost any round you get that's loaded with the 77 SMK is going to be good. It's really hard to screw that bullet up.

[Bimmer]

OK, it's not the .223, but I shoot FGGM .308 and 7.62 in my Savage 10 (168s and 175s), and it's consistently <1moa out to 200-300yds.

If/When I can find it on sale (<$20/box) I buy more.

[irondude]

Thanks very much for the links and information. I will let you know how things go after testing.

[jmk]

FGMM has been outstanding for me, but haven't shot BH.

I did just buy 100 rds of BH 77gr TMK, so I'll have that to compare.

BTW, the Australian Outback 69gr SMK shoots better than I do unless i'm prone behind a scope - and it's half the cost of FGMM.